Thousands of Students Welcomed to UCSB and Talk About Their Future Plans
John Palminteri
UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – It’s a small city-like educational setting coming together in a short time, but it’s been done before and UC Santa Barbara is launching another school year with a consistent but updated playbook.
A surprise this year has been an inaugural Gaucho Welcome rally recently.
The school says it kicked off with booming music, spirited cheerleaders, and chants of “UC! SB!”
They also met the new Chancellor Dennis Assanis, and his wife, Eleni.
He spoke to them from a stage at the famous Thunderdome and had some impressive stats.
“Nearly 130,000 students — from 54 California counties, 43 states throughout the U.S. and from more than 46 countries — applied to become Gauchos this year,” he said as was reported in a school newsletter. “We chose you because we believe in you. You are here for an outstanding education, transformative experiences and important life connections. And we are all here to help you and support you every step of the way.”
There are always adjustments and students are learning that in the first week.
The school library hours were shortened to eliminate all night use.
The University Police Department has asked the UC Regents to fund more equipment including pepper balls which can be used in crowd control efforts during large free speech events. Four other UC campuses also asked for improved gear for police.
Last year, UCSB not only had many rallies, but also criminal acts of trespassing and vandalism inside a building.
A sense of school spirit and pride was discussed at the recent rally. Some of that will be shown in the first few days with students on campus coming and going to their classes and study halls, meeting friends and checking out the nearby campus environment.
UCSB student Tatiana Jacquez works at KCSB radio on campus and said, “a lot of the freshmen are here with their bright eyes. It reminds me of when I first started. So I definitely don’t think there has been any changes within the wave of students being here.”
Some students admit they may pivot going forward as they reach their college goals. “I think you definitely have to adapt to what is to come. Obviously, we’re in a very unprecedented time where people are, you know, concerned, what does this mean for my job?”
One student who is the first in his family to go to college, Yael Carranza said, “as my dad would tell me, no pain, no gain. So I definitely have to make sure I can put in the hard work to get where I can be a little more comfortable.”
Optimism was apparent with students who were looking ahead at their opportunities. “It’s very tough times for all types of students. I know it is very hard and just keep going forward and looking for the future , ” said Lizbeth Mendieta.
With a piece of advice from a third-year student, Jacquez said, “one thing that never goes away is passion to to make change and to make the best of the circumstances.”
Many students say joining a club or organization or attending activities is a key component to avoiding isolation and having a full and complete college life.
Students promoting a campus concert say it will be a good time to bond and make new friends.
Sariya Dyson said, “It’s good to get people somewhere other than outside and partying and in danger or something like but being on campus and like in campus organizations, with people like them. It’s a way to meet people.””
One student said he had a personal and family goal to meet. “Being first generation gives me this sense of like, hey, this is the first time we’re running this. I gotta make sure I kind of figure it out and that way for people like, I kind of coming later than me,” said Carranza. “I have four younger siblings. They can do better than me.”
There will also be one of the big sporting events of the yea Saturday. It will be the Blue-Green rivalry in soccer Saturday in Harder Stadium between UCSB and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
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